[Bradford] Blog: Amazon UK and the Microsoft Tax

[John R. Hudson]

On Thu, 2012-12-06 at 01:22 +0000, x-ric at brucenetworks.com wrote:
> On 06/12/2012 01:04, Brian wrote:
> 
> > My definition: Microsoft Tax - Being compelled to pay for a
> > Microsoft OS that you don't want when you buy a computer.
> > I found this blog which catalogues how Amazon UK have so obviously
> > dragged their heels when they have been requested to refund the
> > Microsoft Tax.
> > Shamazon: why Amazon UK suck
> > http://www.samnazarko.co.uk/
> > Sam Nazarko is also known for:
> >  http://www.raspbmc.com
> > 
> > morning 
> > It's the manufacturers sweet deals with microsoft the trick here 
> > you may see this end shortly given they screwed them with 
> > starting to make there own hardware.    
> > 
> > rich
> >  
There was an interesting piece in LXF by Michael Meeks explaining how
OEM suppliers supplement their profits with virus, media and other
programs they include for which they get a percentage if the purchaser
upgrades to the paid version.

So putting Windows on hardware is a way of increasing profits per unit
which doesn't exist with Linux. I know this doesn't strictly relate to
getting back the Windows tax but it illustrates that the situation is
not as straightforward as it might appear.

John
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